Starbucks proposal draws complaints from Massapequa residents
Starbucks is seeking a special use permit for a drive-thru window at its new Massapequa location. (Oct. 23, 2013) Credit: AP
Some Massapequa residents Tuesday asked the Oyster Bay Town Board to reject a Starbucks proposed for Sunrise Highway, saying the coffee shop and its drive-through would exacerbate traffic problems in their neighborhood.
The board reserved decision after the hearing.
Supervisor John Venditto said Starbucks "would be a desirable tenant in the town. But the community needs to be protected" from excessive traffic and parking problems. He advised the applicant to meet with and resolve the concerns of residents, who say they only learned of the proposal from an item in Tuesday's Newsday.
Anthony Cincotta of Woodbury, attorney for the applicant, 4440 Sunrise Property Corp., said the 1,822-square-foot, one-story coffee shop proposed for a 26,700-square-foot vacant lot at the corner of Sunrise Highway and Ocean Avenue would have entrances on both streets. He predicted most customers, particularly those using the drive-through, would enter and leave from Sunrise Highway.
He said there would be 23 off-street parking spaces -- two more than required by the building code -- with additional parking across the street. He said that because more than half of the customers at the Starbucks in Bethpage used the drive-through, there should be no problem with people parking in front of homes.
Resident Peter Hart said, "There are a lot of problems with this proposal. Ocean Avenue is a high-traffic area already. There are many, many residences on Ocean Avenue, and many children live on that block. There is a home for adults with disabilities. This is going to cause a very significant increase in traffic. We consider it a real danger to the community."He said most of the people who want to visit Starbucks will end up on Ocean Avenue. He suggested the entrance on Ocean Avenue be eliminated.
Venditto and several councilmen suggested that the applicant consider that or at least direct exiting traffic one way to keep it away from the homes.
Cincotta said that would be considered.
Updated now Newsday travel writer Scott Vogel took the ferry over to Block Island for a weekend of fun.
Updated now Newsday travel writer Scott Vogel took the ferry over to Block Island for a weekend of fun.
